Football fans think they’ve spotted Mateo Kovačić forgetting what club he plays for or very briefly revealing where his true allegiances still lie, after a video of celebrating Chelsea’s equaliser in the blockbuster 4-4 draw against Manchester City on Sunday, 12 November.
Kovačić joined Man City this summer, leaving Stamford Bridge to replace the outgoing İlkay Gündoğan — one of the best like-for-like bits of recruitment the club could have hoped for — and won a UEFA Super Cup almost the second he walked through the door.
That being said, the Croatian midfielder couldn’t have found himself a better destination than the home of the current European champions and treble-winners, so when a clip of his reaction to Chelsea’s equalising penalty surfaced on social media, it’s safe to say it raised a few eyebrows.
Capturing the moment immediately after former City starlet Cole Palmer tucks away his penalty to tie up the bonkers Premier League fixture, Kovačić appears to celebrate a hard-fought performance from his side going from three points to just one. Take a look and see what you think:
Some eagle-eyed fans think Matteo Kovacic (City No.8) celebrated Cole Palmer's equalizer, thus making him proper Chelsea. 🧐
Bottom left, number eight. Is Kovačić celebrating Chelsea’s equaliser?
You have to say, there aren’t many times you watch the opponent score against your own team and feel like you want to do a low fist pump…
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While the gesture is obviously a relatively reserved one, you swiftly see him then drop his arm — perhaps in a moment of realisation — before walking off with his head down.
Make of it what you will but, obviously, Chelsea fans all over social media are convinced that this was the 29-year-old letting slip that he still prefers his previous club, with supporters labelling him a “proper Chels” player and still a West Londoner “through and through”.
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The midfielder has yet to address the club and is likely to just ignore the whole thing until it blows over, but it is a curious one, to say the least. Perhaps he was just really chuffed for youngster Palmer, who also recently swapped his shirt for a different shade of blue this past transfer window, though the two can’t have spent much time together in the two months they were both still at the Etihad.
What do you think, Blues — was it a momentary lapse where the former Chelsea star simply forgot that he’s on the other team now, a hand gesture that’s simply been misconstrued or something else?
Pep Guardiola‘s champions are still sitting top of the table by just one point as they head into the international break, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and Aston Villa all within touching distance.
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Simply because it was one of the craziest games we’ve seen in a long time and already being hailed as a Premier League classic, we’ll leave the highlights for you here:
Featured Image — Mateo Kovačić (via Instagram)/Sports Extra (via YouTube)
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Manchester Storm’s record-breaking return to AO Arena goes down a storm with fans
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Storm have made their grand return to the AO Arena, after more than two decades away from their former home.
And it appears the ice hockey craze (which may have been spurred on by a certain Heated Rivalry) is here to stay, with record-breaking numbers piling into the venue for Sunday’s match against Sheffield Steelers.
The AO Arena has now shared that a record crowd of 11,000 fans attended the long-awaited Manchester Storm homecoming last week.
The action has gone down a storm with fans, with plenty of chatter on social media (and videos of a certain fight) doing the rounds.
Manchester Storm’s homecoming has now smashed the record for an Elite Hockey pre-season fixture, with fans travelling from across Manchester and beyond.
As the team enters this new era, bidding farewell to the ‘Storm Shelter’ in Altrincham that’s been their home for a decade, demand for tickets is continuing to grow.
This is the first time fans have been able to see the club on the ice at the AO Arena since 2004, and last weekend they thrilled supporters with a 5-5 draw agains the Steelers.
Manchester Storm is now set to bring approximately 35 games to the city centre each year, providing a regular programme of major sporting events for Manchester and its visitors.
It also brings elite-level hockey back to one of Europe’s largest indoor sporting arenas.
Gemma Vaughan, General Manager at the AO Arena says, “Tonight is a hugely significant moment for Manchester.
“To welcome Manchester Storm back to their former home after more than 20 years, and to do so in front of a record Elite Hockey League crowd, is incredibly special.
“The response from supporters has demonstrated the strength of Manchester’s passion for ice hockey and the demand for world-class sport in the city. We’re proud to be able to provide a home for the Storm as they begin this exciting new chapter.”
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it
Emily Sergeant
Erling Haaland has answered the all-important question.
The question heard around the world, the question on everyone’s lips, a question that has absolutely nothing to do with football whatsoever… that’s right, he’s answered Letterboxd’s famous question of ‘what are your four favourite films?’.
If you’re unaware of what Letterboxd is, it describes itself as being an ‘online diary platform and app for film lovers’ and it gives users the chance to display their four favourite films at the top of their profile for all to see (and judge).
An extension of this has then been Letterboxd asking celebrities in press junket interviews and on red carpets what their ‘four faves’ are – and it’s gone on to become something of a phenomenon in the film world.
Everyone from massive A-list movie stars, to indie darlings and up-and-coming names have answered this question before, and now (it appears) to be Erling Haaland’s turn.
He’s not the first footballer to be tasked with question though, as the entire Spurs team was ambushed with it by former player – and famously massive cinephile – Alfie Whiteman last year, but it’s fair to say that after the summer he’s had with Norway at the World Cup, achieving international fame in the process, that Haaland is one of the most high-profile to answer it in a long while.
So, what’s on Erling’s list then?
Well, to self-confessed ‘film bros’ out there, you’re not going to find any deep cuts in this selection unfortunately, and you’re probably not going to get any recommendations for movies you haven’t seen before either, but come on, he is only a footballer after all.
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it / Credit: Letterboxd
First up for the Manchester City striker is a pretty common pick by straight white men, it’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and he doesn’t give much of a reason for it, other than just suggesting: “I think you understand why”.
He then follows that up with Ridley Scott’s classic Gladiator, calling it ‘amazing’, before naming 2004’s epic Troy, and then rounding it out with a Christmas favourite for many, Home Alone, adding that he ‘watched it a lot as a kid, and then again now’.
As for fan reaction to Haaland’s four favourites, let’s just say it’s been mixed.
Among the 1,000+ comments on the Instagram video, you’ll find just as many people called him ‘king’ and saying he has ‘goated’ taste, as you will comments like this: “He has the most male gazed top four in history of Letterboxd.”
Danny Jones -
14th November 2023 
